Suicide and Our Kids

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Transcript of Suicide and Our Kids

On average, •Two youth (ages 10-17) are treated for suicide attempts every day in Utah.•Three young adults (ages 18-24) are treated for suicide attempts every day in Utah.

*****598 youth attempted suicide in 2011*****

www.health.utah.gov/vipp

.But WHY?Teens and young adults deal with enough - confusing feelings, identity issues, insecurities, hormones...add in divorce, death of a parent, addicted parent, abandonment, physical abuse, sexual abuse, experimenting with drugs, sex, impulsive and often dangerous behavior...what else?Be BraveLISTEN, LOVE, ACT!.What does an ideal childhood look like?Warning SignsIs your friend Sad, withdrawn, angry? "I'm a nobody""I have no friends", "Life sucks", " I want to die"What can I do??Talk about "it"Love them, listen with empathyBelieve themDon't keep "it" a secretTake it seriouslyAsk about a planGet help*Depression - What is it?Making suicidal statements.Being preoccupied with death in conversation, writing, or drawing.Giving away belongings.Withdrawing from friends and family.Having aggressive or hostile behavior.

Utah Youth Suicide Facts2nd leading cause of death ages 10 - 17Utah ranks 5th in the nation for youth suicidesIn an average classroom with 30 kids:8 will report feeling sad and hopeless4 will have seriously considered suicide2 will have attempted suicide one or more times1 will have had medical treatment for suicide7 out of 10 attempts are girls7 out of 10 suicide deaths are boysOnly a small number of suicides happen without warning. Therefore, all threats of self-harm should be taken seriously. In addition, a majority of people who attempt suicide are ambivalent and not entirely intent on dying.Cyber Bullying Facts

1. Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online. 2. 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online.3. Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyber bullying.4. 68% of teens agree that cyber bullying is a serious problem.5. 81% of young people think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person.6. Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide.What Can I Do? *When you see bullying, there are things you can do to make it stop.

*Talk to a parent, teacher, or another adult you trust. Adults need to know when bad things happen so they can help.

*Be kind to the kid being bullied. Show them that you care by trying to include them. Sit with them at lunch or on the bus, talk to them at school, or invite them to do something. Just hanging out with them will help them know they aren’t alone.

*Not saying anything could make it worse for everyone. The kid who is bullying will think it is okay to keep treating others that way.